Israel's strikes a declaration of war

Syria has said Israel's attack on a military facility in Syria amounts to a 'declaration of war'.

Transcript

EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: International authorities are pleading for calm after Syria labelled an Israeli air strike on one of its military facilities a declaration of war. Syria says yesterday's explosions near Damascus have left many people dead, and just minutes ago, the country's Observatory for Human Rights released a statement saying that the raids had killed at least 42 soldiers and 100 more remained unaccounted for. In preparation for any possible retaliation, Israel has beefed up its border security. And a warning: some viewers might find these images disturbing. Middle East correspondent Matt Brown reports.

MATT BROWN, REPORTER: By night, the scale of the attack on the outskirts of Damascus was self-evident.

The raid reportedly targeted a missile storage facility and killed scores of soldiers.

Daylight revealed devastation from what Western officials say was an Israeli strike on Iranian-made missiles due to be shipped to Israel's sworn enemy, the Lebanese group Hezbollah. It's by far the biggest of three suspected Israeli attacks on Syria this year. The Syrian Government called it an act of war.

OMRAN AL-ZOUBI, SYRIAN INFORMATION MINISTER: The Israeli invaders committed a blatant act of aggression against Syria. We have the right and responsibility to protect our country from any form of infringement, either at home or abroad.

MATT BROWN: Israel will not officially confirm it launched the attack, but on the weekend it strengthened its anti-missile defence system near the border with Lebanon.

UZI LANDAU, ISRAELI MINISTER OF TOURISM: It's vital for the security and the stability of the Middle East that no weapons of mass destruction will spill over to the hands of terror organisations.

BARACK OBAMA, US PRESIDENT: They are very close to Syria. They're very close to Lebanon. Hezbollah has repeatedly said that they would be willing to attack as far as Tel-Aviv, and so the Israelis have to be vigilant and they have to be concerned. And we will continue to coordinate with Israel. With respect to the larger issue of Syria, as I said yesterday, I don't take any options off the table as Commander-in-Chief. Circumstances can change. You never know what contingencies you have to deal with. But, what I do know is that I cannot see a scenario right now in which American boots on the ground.

MATT BROWN: The UN Secretary-General expressed grave concern about the incident and while Israel's friends back its right to act in Syria, there is growing concern about an escalation in the conflict.

LAURENT FABIUS, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER: Obviously, it boasts something that one can understand, and at the same time, it's a risk. Because if more - and if the situation of the conflict extends itself to the surrounding countries, the nature of the conflict can be changed.

MATT BROWN: Israelis are now wondering if Syria will respond with more than just words. Can Bashir al-Assad afford to take on a much more powerful foe, or will his allies in terrorist groups or Iran take some kind of action? Because he most certainly has his hands full with an increasingly brutal civil war.

New images have emerged of what appears to be a series of terrible sectarian massacres. Opposition activists say pro-Government militias were responsible for killing dozens of people in Assad's heartland on the Syrian coast.

Fighting continues throughout most of the country. And in an outer suburb of the capital, protestors apparently took to a statue of the President's father, Hafez al-Assad, no doubt hoping his son would soon also be brought down.

Matt Brown, Lateline.

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